TURMOIL IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY

SEEKING GUIDANCE!

In all departments of life the Muslim community – the Ummah – is in turmoil. Seeking guidance, a brother writes:

AssalamuAlaikumwaRahmatullahiwaBarakatuh,

I hope this message reaches you in good health and strong faith. Our community faces increasing challenges not only from internal divisions but also from the dynamics of modern communication and the varying levels of understanding among its members. These issues have become particularly evident in the unfolding situation with Amaanat Holdings.

Concerns Over Social Media Misuse: Recent events have highlighted a troubling trend in the use of social media within our community. Platforms that could serve as spaces for positive communication and enlightening discourse are instead being misused to spread unverified information rapidly. This abuse of social media contributes to misinformation spreading unchecked, influencing public opinion without giving room for critical evaluation or verification of facts.

Exploitation of Public and Shareholder Ignorance: Furthermore, there is a significant concern regarding the general ignorance among the public and shareholders, which has been exploited by those with vested interests. The lack of understanding about the nuances of corporate governance and financial management within Amaanat Holdings has allowed misleading narratives to flourish, exacerbating conflicts and leading to decisions that may not be in the best interest of all stakeholders.

Seeking Guidance: Given these issues, I turn to you for guidance on how our community can better equip itself against such vulnerabilities:

Combating Misinformation: What measures can be implemented to ensure that information disseminated through social media is accurate and constructive? How can we, as a community, foster a culture of verifying facts before sharing them?
Educating the Public: In what ways can we improve the financial and civic literacy of our community members to prevent exploitation and enable informed decision-making?
Promoting Ethical Media Usage: What guidance does Islam provide on the ethical use of media and communication technologies, particularly in preventing harm to others through speech?
Enhancing Community Discourse: How can we encourage a community environment where discussions are based on knowledge, respect, and a sincere search for truth, rather than following popular or persuasive opinions without basis?

Your profound insights would greatly help in navigating these complex issues and fostering a community that is resilient, informed, and united in its pursuit of justice and truth as guided by our faith.

JazakAllahKhair for your valuable guidance.

(End of the Brother’s quest)

COMMENT

As long as Muslims do not understand the causes for the turmoil – fitnah and fasaad – which has emaciated the moral, spiritual and even physical fibre of the Ummah, a satisfactory solution will not be forthcoming. It is imperative to understand that the prosperity and success of the Muslim Ummah cannot be achieved on the basis of the ways and means of the kuffaar. Whatever brings success to the kuffaar will not necessarily bring success and prosperity for Muslims who adopt the methodology of aliens. On the contrary, the adoption of the methodology of the kuffaar has made Muslims bootlickers of the Yahood and Nasaara and has brought humiliation in its wake.

The prosperity and success of Muslims is reliant on vibrant Imaan, and such Imaan is achieved only by way of obedience to Allah Ta’ala. Minus Taa-at (obedience) and Ibaadat there is only failure and humiliation for Muslims.

The ills and the evils mentioned by the Brother are the consequences of the villainy perpetrated by Muslims. Thus, the Qur’aan Majeed states:

“Fasaad (anarchy/corruption) has appeared on the land and ocean because of the misdeeds perpetrated by the hands of people…”

The decline and fall of the Ummah from the pinnacle of glory and power into the dregs of disgrace and impotency are the direct consequences of treachery against Allah Ta’ala. Thus, the Qur’aan Majeed states:

“…Verily, Allah does not change (eliminate) any bounty (of prosperity and power) which He has bestowed to a nation except when they themselves change (the goodness) which is in themselves. Verily, Allah is The All-Hearing One and The All-Knowing One.”

Al-Anfaal, Aayat 53)

Thus, the only way of retrieving what has been lost in the wake of treachery and disobedience, is to return to the Sunnah of the Sahaabah. Brother, there is no other way. The community has to be educated and trained in the various Departments of Life in the light of the Shariah. Such education can be imparted only by the Ulama. But the massive, lamentable and almost insurmountable problem which faces this Ummah is that the Ulama themselves are ROTTEN to the core. They are the primary villains digging up the foundations of Islam. Thus, currently this Ummah drifts rudderless in the ocean of destruction being buffeted by hostile forces. And, all of this is Athaab of Allah Azza Wa Jal – Athaab which is right now glaringly visible in Palestine.

It is of vital importance to understand that in all our activities in all branches of life, it is fatal to delete Allah Ta’ala from the equation. Even sincere Muslims concerned about the turmoil and the villainy ruining the community bark up the wrong tree in search of solutions and ways of remedying the corruption which has eroded the morality and destroyed the Imaan of the Muslim community.

In the absence of Taqwa, nothing will be able to ameliorate the state of corruption in which the community is drowning.

On the occasion of taking possession of the City of Jerusalem, Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu anhu) commented: “We are a nation whom Allah has elevated with Islam.” Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Whatever is by Allah is obtainable by means of obedience.”

Safety, honour, respect, prosperity, success and victory are all the bounties of Allah Ta’ala He awards these bounties to only His obedient servants. No one should dwell in any misapprehension regarding the worldly prosperity of the kuffaar. They should never be begrudged because of the worldly bounties Allah Ta’ala has bestowed to them because for them there is only eternal perdition in Jahannam whereas for Muslims there is eternal pleasure in Jannat. Thus, paucity of worldly possessions of comfort, luxury, etc. is by no means the sign of failure. It is never the cause of the humiliation Muslims are suffering nor the cause of the yoke of oppression placed on Muslims by kuffaar domination. On the contrary, humiliation at the hands of the kuffaar and oppression are the consequences of Muslim treachery against Allah Ta’ala Who punishes Muslims by means of kuffaar domination and oppression.

Every Department of the Islamic Code of Life has been denuded of its reality. The Muslim community is incrementally sinking in the quagmire of fisq, fujoor and kufr. The Aqaaid (Beliefs) and the A’maal (Deeds) in all our affairs are corrupt. The marital affairs, business affairs, social affairs, etc. are corrupt. While Muslims profess to be Muslims, perform Salaat haphazardly, pay partial Zakaat and generally and ostensibly act like Muslims, in attitude they are atheists. In brief, the Ummah is absolutely rotten.

The one and only way for the reformation of Muslims is to adopt the Qur’aanic prescription. There is absolutely no other way of reformation for Muslims. The Qur’aan prescribes Inaabat Ilallaah, that is to turn unto Allah Ta’ala with repentance; to renew the Pledge of obedience and to fully submit to the Shariah. But Muslims are not prepared for this Divine Prescription. Thus, the current state of rot will only increase without there being any hope for reformation, improvement and progress.

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that the two vices/diseases which will destroy this Ummah are hubbud dunya (love of the world) and karaahiyatul maut (aversion for death). Brother, there is just no longer any hope for the reformation of the Ummah as a whole. Reforming this Ummah in this Last of Eras (Aakhiruz Zamaan) will be the function of Imaam Mahdi (Alayhis salaam). While reformation will continue on an individual basis and in small pockets/groups, there is no hope for the reformation of the whole community.

Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Rahmatullah alayh) has explained these issues in detail in his kitaab, Hayaatul Muslimeen. The book is available in English. Do study it for a better understanding of the conundrum which is confusing Muslims.

29 Shawwaal 1445 – 9 May 2024